Category Archives: Los Angeles

Everything I Drank This Week: Rare $600 Balvenie to One-Year Barrel-Aged Negroni

Balvenie tasting by Caroline on Crack

Another great week of drinking, from making my own Southside at the Plymouth and Beefeater Ginvasion to checking out the guy who took over Matthew Biancaniello’s post at the Hollywood Roosevelt’s Library Bar to a Balvenie tasting with malt master David Stewart. Sunday Well really, a continuation of my Saturday dive bar hop. After going…

Inside New Private Club Chloe’s at Pub at Golden Road Brewing

The Parlour by Caroline on Crack

Hate to break it to you but if you’re not in the beer biz then you probably won’t be able to party it up at Chloe’s, the new private beer club in the Pub at Golden Road Brewing. It’s more an event space than a working bar or speakeasy but only those in the beer…

Craft Los Angeles: Cocktails With Substance Despite the Flash

Craft Backwoods Remedy by Caroline on Crack

For some reason I always thought that Craft Los Angeles was way more fancy and intimidating than it actually is. It’s the unofficial CAA cafeteria after all and has a Top Chef name attached to it. But truth be told, chef Tom Colicchio‘s high-profile spot in Century City offers a quiet, elegant bar with ample…

Thanksgiving Eve Drinking Roundup

Seven Grand by Caroline on Crack

Got the jitters about getting together with the family tomorrow for Thanksgiving? For some, it’s enough to drive you to drink. How about partying it up and having a good time tonight at these Thanksgiving Eve drinking events? For those looking for where to drink on the actual holiday, even though most bars will be…

Cold Comfort Cocktails: Fall Cocktail Roundup + Cocktail Recipe

City Tavern Barrel-Aged Pumpkin Cocktail by Caroline on Crack

As much as I love sunny days in L.A. I love this chill in the air. Perfect for cuddling and, oh, the delicious cocktails that showcase the best flavors of the season, flavors that comfort as well as evoke special memories from this time of year: pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dessert, apple cider for nights…

The Operator Cocktail Recipe by Providence’s Zahra Bates

Providence's Zahra Bates by Caroline on Crack

Bartender Zahra Bates’ days at Providence are ticking down. After five years of working at the two-Michelin-star restaurant, where she was trained by Vincenzo Marianella, 2012 Spirited Awards American Bartender of the Year nominee, and where she’s made a name for herself thanks to her innovative culinary cocktails, Zahra is leaving. She wanted to free…

Save New York Bars: Harvard & Stone’s Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Event

PKNY by Caroline on Crack

Because of Hurricane Sandy last month New Yorkers are still trying to pick up the pieces, including helping local bars get back up and running again. If you can’t imagine living one night without your favorite watering hole you can imagine how much they’re hurting. Fortunately even though we’re on the Left Coast we can…

Picca Restaurant’s New Fall Menu Debuts Tomorrow

Chef Ricardo Zarate by Caroline on Crack

Tomorrow Chef Ricardo Zarate’s new fall menu debuts at his West L.A. Picca Restaurant. I scored a sneaky peek and taste of the 20 dishes this week at a media dinner, which was kinda eery considering just the week before I said that a 15-course dinner paired with cocktails was my idea of the perfect…

LA Weekend Events November 15 to 19: Great Walk on Melrose, Chocolate Festival, 1886’s Birthday Blowout

1886 Bar Turns Two on Saturday by Caroline on Crack

So many LA weekend events, so little time. OR can you do it all? Wondering what shape I’ll be in at the 1886 party after walking 17 miles across L.A. for the Great LA Walk. Anyone game to try? Thursday, November 15 First 3.1 Phillip Lim Sample Sale Ever For the first time, Phillip Lim‘s…

New York Times’ Eric Asimov on How To Love Wine on a Budget

Eric Asimov's wine picks at Domaine LA by Caroline on Crack

I’m not big on wine. Frankly, it usually knocks me out, especially red. But also because I could never really connect with it like foodies and oenophiles do. Tasting notes bewilder me. I mean, what if I DON’T taste the wood, blackberry, leather or whatever they say I should? So when I first heard about…